4/27 – 5/3 Brewers Week In Review

May 4, 2015

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

The Brewers had quite a week. It started with 2 more losses against the Reds before they finished off April with a win. Then, after losing the series opener at Wrigley Field, they beat the Cubs on Saturday and Sunday for their first 2-game winning streak and their first series win. Jean Segura was hit in the head for the second time this season, causing him to stay behind in Chicago to get checked out. Then, after all of that, it was announced on Sunday evening that Ron Roenicke had been dismissed as the Brewers manager.

The Reds jumped on the Brewers in game 1 in Cincinnati, building a lead that even a furious 4 run rally in the ninth still had the Brewers lose 9-6. Jimmy Nelson was taken out of the game with one out in the third, giving up 7 earned runs, striking out 1 and walking 5. Jean Segura continued his hot hitting going 2-5 with 3 RBIs. Adam Lind added 2 hits with a run scored and another driven in. All of that was not enough for the Crew as they fell to 4-16.

Johnny Cueto pitched 8 strong innings in game 2, giving up just 2 runs while striking out 6. Kyle Lohse gave up 3 home runs that accounted for all 4 of the Reds’ runs for the game. Lohse has given up at least one home run in each of his first five starts this season. Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Braun each hit solo home runs, but that was it for the offense as the Brewers fell 4-2.

Game 3 of the series was a different story, one that Brewer fans thought they would see more of this season. Lind and Khris Davis each hit solo home runs in the second to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead. Braun added another solo shot in the fifth for his second home run in 2 games. Logan Schafer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth to make the score 4-2. Braun then took a 2-2 pitch and hit his second home run of the game, a grand slam to put the game out of reach. The final score was 8-3. With that win, they tied the franchise record for least amount of wins in a month (5). Their .227 winning percentage for April was the fifth worst month in their history.

The Brewer bats again went silent, this time in Wrigley Field. They once again could not find that elusive 2-game winning streak. Wily Peralta only gave up a solo home run, but that was enough for Jon Lester. The Cubs lefty did not give up a run in 7 innings and the Cubs bullpen shut the door on the Brewers for a 1-0 win.

The Brewers bats came alive in the second game. Braun hit a 2-run home run in the first, his 4th home run in 4 games. Mike Fiers pitched 6 innings and only gave up a solo home run while striking out 12 Cubs batters. Segura finished the day 4-5 with 2 RBIs, a run scored, and his fifth stolen base.

The series finale against the Cubs was Ramirez’s game to shine. He opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second and finished the scoring with a 2-out 2-run single in the eighth. That gave the Brewers a 5-3 lead that would hold up to give the team their first series win and their first 2-game winning streak of the season.

Unfortunately, one of the plays that set up those runs could cost the Brewers. With runners at first and third and nobody out, Segura squared around to bunt. A 95mph fast ball came up and in and hit him in the front of the helmet. He was down for several minutes, then walked to first before coming out of the game. Segura stayed behind in Chicago for observation. CT scans came up negative, which is good news.

The big bombshell for the week came on Sunday night. The Brewers announced that they were letting manager Ron Roenicke go after 4+ years. Doug Melvin mentioned the last 100 games was a big part of the decision. He and owner Mark Attanasio made the decision after the series against the Reds and made the announcement after the Cubs series. Craig Counsell was announced as Roenicke’s successor, and not as an interim manager. Counsell was signed to a 3 year contract.

The Brewers are not quite ready to pack it in for the season. They are going to see what happens now and see if they can be competitive for the rest of the season. If not, there may be many changes in store for the Brewers.

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